I am thinking around 110-125gr range for a pair of 11 y/o twins. I have loaded plinkers up for them but don't want to err with a varmint bullet. Thanks.

the 125 nosler BT is no varmint bullet. they work fine on deer so I'm sure they would on Antelope as well

+1 125g NBT

H4895 with a 125 NBT would be a good start.

NBT 125 was my first thought.

As a different approach, when my son was that age I downloaded my .308 for him with flat point bullets of 150gr built for the 30-30 with very good results.

If you want a few 125 NBTs to try PM me and I'll send you a few.

125 gr NBT's or 110-120 gr Barnes Tac Tx

For my daughter I needed to develop a load that would work for both antelope and elk this fall.

Two loads are currently in the running. The first is a 130g Barnes TTSX, the other is a 150g Nosler AB. Calculated recoil in't much different. May work up a 168g TTSX at 2700fps - a bit more recoil than the 150g (17.8 vs. 16.2 ft-lbs) and virtually the same trajectory out to 400 but with an extra 200fpe at that range.

The primary advantage of the 130g TTSX is flatter shooting. At 400 yards I calculate MPBR zeroing for a 6" target puts it down 14.2" vs. 18-19" for the other loads. Impact velocity is about 100fps higher aat 400 as well, at a calculated 2255fps. Retained energy is the lowest, about 1470fpe vs. about 1550 for the 150g AB and 1745 for the 168g TTSX.

Which gets the final nod is yet to be determined by a number of factors but mostly by which she shoots best and prefers.

Another vote here.

125 NBT or 125 NAB and Varget is pretty awesome! Bang, flop at 280-yards by my son. It was the fastest dropping antelope I have seen yet.

I may have to try Varget as H4895 is unobtainium around here. NBT are hard to find online also. I ordered some Hornady SST 125 for load development.

Dude, thanks for the offer.

125 BT on top of 748. 125 Sierra if Nosler is unobtainable.

My late wife was happy with 125 gr. SIERRA spitzers. About 2,900 fps.

My son started out shooting reduced recoil loads in his .308. I checked his rifle mid-season with a regular 150 grain. I could tell no difference. For the rest of the season, he shot the regular round and killed deer. He was seven. Killed an antelope with it at 300 yards when he was 10.
The 11 year olds shouldn't have much trouble with a regular 150 grain round.

if that is the case, I would try 155 scenars, and varget. A great combination. My boy who is 13 uses it in his 308. He shoots it very well, with no recoil issues. Accurate and a good bullet on game.

125 BT is an excellent bullet.

we've had good luck with the 125 Sierra SP and the Speer HP at 300 Blackout speeds. (2100 fps launch)

My grandaughter shoots my 308. I load a 125 Nosler ballistic tip with the youth load listed for H 4895. This load will punch through a deer shoulders at a hundred yards. DRT You can start at 60% of the max load for H4895. Not much recoil. Great for adults to practice with too.

Not to say the 125 BT wouldn't be a good choice, but I think this would be worth a try. A 150 .30-30 bullet at around 2300 fps would perform great out to 150 yards or so and recoil would be quite mild.

A quick momentum balance check shows this to have about the same recoil as a 125 at 2760.

What about a Barnes 130 reduced load?

This is what I used as a kid. Banged them together with the lee basic kit. Worked very well on deer but for antelope I would recommend the 125 Bt. For the possibly longer shots, wind, and range estimation factors the pointier round wins.

We've had great results with Rem CoreLokt 125 grainers, loaded to about 2600.

Great expansion, great penetration, bust bone but yet open up nicely on lungs. It's a good bullet.

110gr Barnes TTSX/TSX is about the lightest recoiling load for 308's, and doesn't have to be reduced. Have done the 125gr NBT, etc, and 110gr Barnes by quite a bit.

My son just shot his first antelope with a 125tnt at 2900 fps. It broke both shoulders but did not exit. Bang.....flop! I guess thats all you can ask for. I dont know that there would be a noticeable amount of difference in recoil between a 125 at 2900-3000fps and a 150 at 2600-2700fps though. I am going to start loading him 150-155's and see how he does.